E. Doctor Smith's Blog

Singer, pianist and composer Ian Hunter is perhaps best known as the lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople, from its inception in 1969 to 1974. Hunter would later embark on a solo career, often in collaboration with the Hoople's guitarist Mick Ronson, well-known for his work with David Bowie. Among Hunter's best-known solo records are "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" and "Cleveland Rocks," made famous as the theme to TV's "The Drew Carey Show". This Friday night, Hunter and his Rant Band make a rare appearance at the Fillmore for one of only three shows in California. The writer Campell Devine provides a bio on Hunter's website for the "uninitiated", "Born in Oswestry, Shropshire and fuelled musically by the likes of Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, Ian Hunter Patterson played in various bands throughout the sixties, including The New Yardbirds and, as a bass player, backed Billy Fury,Freddie Fingers Le...

I was back in DC last week on U Street when a friend and I spotted the legendary Chuck Brown. I'd just heard his latest CD, "We Got This", with his fabulous new tune "Love", featuring Ledesi, Marcus Miller and Jill Scott. The name Chuck Brown might not mean a whole lot to people outside the D.C. area. In D.C., Brown is widely known, even revered, as the Godfather of Go-Go, a title he's held since the late '70s. Though he started out as a jazz guitarist, Brown invented go-go, a style that incorporates funk, jazz, R&B, hip-hop and dancehall, and has mostly stuck with it ever since. "We Got This" is perhaps Brown at his finest, groove bustin', Go Go best. “The Godfather of Go Go,” Chuck Brown is the undisputed sole founder and creator Go-Go music, a hypnotically danceable genre deeply rooted in funk and soul that he developed in the early 70’s , and the only form of expressive culture to originate in the District of Columbia. Foreshadow...

I'd first seen the enigmatic bassist Mick Karn in Los Angeles during his mid-80s tour with guitarist David Torn, drummer Bill Bruford and trumpeter Michael White in support of Torn's critically acclaimed "Cloud About Mercury" album. One of the most memorable moments of that performance was Karn's rendition of "Dalis Car", a popular song from his days with Peter Murphy of Bauhaus and David Sylvian of "Japan". Used to close each show, "Dalis Car" was emblematic of Karn's compositional prowess and unique approach to his instrument. Sadly, after a long battle with cancer, Karn passed away on Tuesday at his home in London. Karn was born to a Greek Cypriot family of five, in Nicosia, Cyprus, as Andonis Michaelides, which was later modified to Antony Michaelides. In late October, of 1961, the family emigrated to London, England, when Karn was three years old. Karn was educated at Catford Boys' School, Catford, South East London, and ...